Tear open bag with transmission barrier

ABSTRACT

A bag configured for holding contents and configured for permitting a user to dispense the contents from the bag. The bag includes at least front and rear panels of generally flexible film. The bag defines a volume adapted for holding the contents. The bag includes a tear line for facilitating opening of the bag body by tearing the bag body along the zone of weakness. The tear line includes an embossment structure. In one embodiment, the embossment structure has a tear force that is substantially constant over the entire length of the tear line. The embossment structure may have a particular arcuate shape. The embossment structure may include indentations having a non-linear shape.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to a bag adapted for holdingcontents, and, more particularly, to such a bag including a tear openfeature that inhibits transmission of substances into and out of the bagprior to opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bags used for packaging various materials include pre-formed zones ofweakness on tear lines for facilitating opening of the bags. Forexample, materials such as water conditioning pellets, bird seed, mulch,salt, fertilizer, and other materials may be packaged in bags havingpre-formed tear lines. Conventional types of pre-formed tear linesinclude perforations or slits. These are openings which extend throughthe material of the bag, exposing contents in the interior of the bag tothe outside environment. Such openings are unfavorable because contentsfrom inside the bag can escape through the openings and contaminantssuch as water can infiltrate the bag through the openings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a bag configured forholding contents and configured for permitting a user to dispense thecontents from the bag. The bag includes a bag body including at leastfront and rear panels of generally flexible film. The bag body defines avolume adapted for holding the contents. The front and rear panelsinclude respective inner surfaces which face each other and form atleast part of the volume. The front and rear panels include respectiveouter surfaces which face away from the volume. The panels each haveupper ends, lower ends, and left and right sides which togetherrespectively form an upper end, a lower end, and left and right sides ofthe body. The bag body includes a zone of weakness on at least one ofthe front and rear panels for facilitating opening of the bag body bytearing the bag body along the zone of weakness. The zone of weaknessincludes an embossment structure that has a tear force that issubstantially constant over the entire length of the zone of weakness.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a bag configuredfor holding contents and configured for permitting a user to dispensethe contents from the bag. The bag includes a bag body including atleast front and rear panels of generally flexible film. The bag bodydefines a volume adapted for holding the contents. The front and rearpanels include respective inner surfaces which face each other and format least part of the volume. The bag body includes edge margins. A zoneof weakness on at least one of the front and rear panels facilitatesopening of the bag body by tearing the bag body along the zone ofweakness. The zone of weakness includes an embossment structureextending along a path from a first of the edge margins to a second ofthe edge margins. Adjacent the first edge margin, the path includes afirst portion starting at said first edge margin and extending away fromsaid second edge margin and a second portion extending from said firstportion to said second edge margin.

In yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a bagconfigured for holding contents and configured for permitting a user todispense the contents from the bag. The bag includes a bag bodyincluding at least front and rear panels of generally flexible film. Thebag body defines a volume adapted for holding the contents. The frontand rear panels include respective inner surfaces which face each otherand form at least part of the volume. The bag body includes a zone ofweakness on at least one of the front and rear panels for facilitatingopening of the bag body by tearing the bag body along the zone ofweakness. The zone of weakness includes an embossment structure. Theembossment structure includes a series of indentations each having anon-linear shape.

Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of a bag of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the bag of FIG. 1 showing atear line on the bag;

FIG. 2B is a view similar to FIG. 2A but showing the bag partially tornalong the tear line;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bag showing in closerdetail indentations of the tear line;

FIG. 4 is a schematic fragmentary section of the bag taken in the planeincluding line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of a segment of a bag of a second embodimentof the present invention, a tear line of the bag being shown;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of a segment of a bag of a third embodimentof the present invention, a tear line of the bag being shown;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bag of FIG. 6 showing incloser detail indentations of the tear line;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of a segment of a bag of a fourth embodimentof the present invention, a tear line of the bag being shown; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bag of FIG. 8 showing incloser detail indentations of the tear line.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a bag of a first embodiment of the presentinvention is shown. The bag is generally indicated by the referencenumber 10. The bag is configured for holding contents and for permittinga user to dispense the contents from the bag. For example, the bag maybe used to hold contents such as water conditioning pellets, bird seed,mulch, salt, and fertilizer. The bag may be used for holding other typesof contents without departing from the scope of the present invention.Desirably, the bag is closed in use to contain the contents in the bagand provides a barrier to transmission of substances into and out of thebag. However, the bag is adapted for being easily opened so a user candispense the contents from the bag by, for example, pouring or scoopingthe contents from the bag.

The bag includes a body defining a volume 12 (FIG. 4) adapted forholding the contents. The bag body includes front and rear panels 14, 16of generally flexible film. The front and rear panels 14, 16 (FIGS. 2Band 4) include respective inner surfaces that face each other and format least part of the volume 12 between the front and rear panels. Thefront and rear panels 14, 16 include respective outer surfaces that faceaway from the volume 12 and form outer surfaces of the bag 10. Thepanels 14, 16 each have upper ends, lower ends, and left and right sideswhich together respectively form an upper end, a lower end, and left andright sides, of the bag 10. Various suitable materials may be usedwithout departing from the scope of the present invention. For example,the film may be a laminated material or include a multi-layer material.

In the illustrated embodiment, the generally flexible film forming thepanels 14, 16 is manufactured as a tube having opposite open ends. Thefront and rear panels are front and rear portions of the tube. Theflexible film material extends continuously between the side margins ofthe front and rear panels except at the upper and lower ends of the bag10 where the front panel is sealed to the rear panel defining upper andlower seal seams 20 to close the open ends of the tube. In other words,the bag 10 includes seal seams 20 traversing the upper and lower edgemargins of the bag 10. The bag 10 has a skirt 26 at the upper edgemargin of the bag and a skirt 26 at the lower edge margin of the bag.The skirts 26 are formed by the free ends of the panels 14, 16 which areoutboard from the seal seams 20.

It will be understood that at certain stages during production, such asbefore the bag 10 is filled with the contents, the bag may not have aseal seam 20 at the upper and/or lower edge margin. Bags may have otherconstructions without departing from the scope of the present invention.For example, the front and rear panels 14, 16 may be formed as separatesheets of material which are sealed together about their peripheral edgemargins to form the volume 12 between the sheets. Moreover, the frontand rear panels 14, 16 need not be connected directly to each other. Forexample, other structure such as additional panels of generally flexiblefilm (e.g., a gusset) may extend between the front and rear panels 14,16.

The bag 10 includes features which facilitate opening of the bag fordispensing contents from the bag. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, thebag 10 includes a tear line (broadly, “zone of weakness”), generallyindicated by the reference number 30. The tear line 30 facilitatesopening of the bag 10 by tearing the bag along the tear line. The tearline 30 is shown in closer detail in FIG. 2A. In general, the tear line30 includes a notch 32 formed in the upper edge margin of the bag, aslit 34 extending downward from a lower end of the notch, and anembossment structure 36 extending along the bag body. The notch 32 andslit 34 are generally aligned with an upper end of the embossmentstructure 36. The notch 32 is provided to facilitate finding the tearline on the perimeter of the bag 10 and start the tear. The slit 34 isprovided to initiate tearing through the seal seam 20. The embossmentstructure 36 is provided for facilitating tearing of the bag body in acontrolled to open the bag 10 easily and accurately.

FIG. 2B illustrates the tear line 30 in a partially torn configuration.Tearing the bag 10 along the tear line 30 forms an opening 38 in the bagfrom which the contents may be dispensed. In the illustrated embodiment,the tear line 30 is positioned for tearing at a corner of the bag 10 andthus for forming the dispensing opening 40 at the corner of the bag.Zones of weakness having other positions, arrangements, and orientationsmay be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The notch 32 provides a user with a clear visual and tactile indicatorof where it is suggested to begin tearing along the tear line 30. In theillustrated embodiment, the notch 32 is formed in the upper skirt 26.Desirably, the notch 32 is shaped and sized to be visually distinct fromadjacent portions of the bag 10. For example, the notch 32 is largeenough and is shaped differently than waves, ruffles, indentations, orother structure on the skirt 26. In the illustrated embodiment, thenotch 32 defines an opening having the shape of an irregular pentagon.The notch 32 has opposite generally parallel sides connected to a lowerportion which forms a point leading into the slit 34.

The slit 34 extends downward from the notch 32 toward an upper end ofthe embossment structure 36 and assists the user in beginning to tearthe embossment structure. In the illustrated embodiment, the slit 34extends entirely across the upper seal seam 20. Accordingly, the userdoes not need to tear across the seal seam 20 when tearing the tear line30. The slit 34 extending across the seal seam 20 may reduce the initialtear force by about 25 to 45 percent, and keeps the tear force moreconsistent of its full length. If the slit 34 extends across and beyondthe seal seam 20 the slit may create a slight opening in the bag body.Even in this instance, there is no significant compromise to thetransmission barrier at the tear line 30. Other slit configurations maybe used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Forexample, the slit 34 may stop short of the seal seam 20 or may extendonly partially across the seal seam.

The embossment structure 36 includes a series of indentations 40. Theindentations 40 are arranged one after another along a path. Theembossment structure 36 may extend partially or entirely across aportion of the bag 10 or from one edge margin to another. In theillustrated embodiment, the embossment structure 36 traverses a cornerof the bag 10, from the upper edge margin to the right side edge margin.The indentations 40 extend along a curvilinear path. Other arrangements,such as indentations extending along other paths or along paths havingother shapes (e.g., a rectilinear path) may be used without departingfrom the scope of the present invention.

A portion of the embossment structure 36 is shown in closer detail inFIG. 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the indentations 40 of theembossment structure are deformations at which the generally flexiblefilm is stretched beyond a yield point of the flexible film but notstretched beyond a break point of the flexible film. The result is thefilm at the deformations 40 is susceptible to tearing by application ofless manual force than would be required to tear the bag body if notdeformed. As used herein, the term yield point refers to the point atwhich irreversible plastic deformation occurs. Before reaching the yieldpoint, the film behaves elastically, such that it resumes its originallocal state (e.g., generally planar) when the applied forces areremoved. As used herein, the term break point refers to the point atwhich the film tears or an opening is formed in the film which extendsentirely through the film. Desirably, before the tear line 30 is torn,the embossment structure 36 is free from any opening passing through thetear line so that the function of the bag to bar transmission ofsubstances into or out of the bag is maintained at the tear line.

Referring to FIG. 3, each of the indentations 40 has a front end 40A anda rear end 40B. The rear end 40B of each indentation 40 is positionedadjacent the front end 40A of an immediately previous indentation in theseries. The front end 40A of each indentation 40 is positioned adjacentthe rear end 40B of an immediately subsequent indentation in the series.Each of the indentations 40 has a length L extending along the pathformed by the indentations and a width W extending generallyperpendicular to the path formed by the indentations. In the illustratedembodiment, the embossment structure 36 also includes connectingsegments 50. The indentations 40 are spaced from one another (e.g.,about 0.06 inches or 1.52 mm) and connected to one another by theconnecting segments 50, which have a generally linear shape and have alength equal to the space between adjacent indentations. Morespecifically, the connecting segments 50 extend between and connect thefront and rear ends 40A, 40B of adjacent indentations 40. In theillustrated embodiment, the connecting segments 50 are deformationswhich are formed at the same time as the indentations 40. The connectingsegments 50 may be omitted or have other shapes without departing fromthe scope of the present invention.

The indentations 40 each have a non-linear shape; meaning that theindentations are not very thin rectangles such as would be formed by aknife edge type tool. The non-linear shape of the indentations 40improves the consistency of force required to tear along the embossmentstructure 36. Each indentation 40 includes an intermediate portionbetween its front and rear ends 40A, 40B. The width of each indentation40 at its front and rear ends 40A, 40B is less than the width of theindentation at its intermediate portion. In the illustrated embodiment,the front and rear ends 40A, 40B of each indentation 40 are pointed. Thetear line 30 includes a tearing path formed by the indentations 40 alongwhich the tear line is most prone to tearing. In the illustratedembodiment, the tearing path is arcuate. Each indentation 40 includesfirst and second sides 40C, 40D extending between its front and rearends 40A, 40B along the length of the indentation. The first side 40C ispositioned in register with and forms a segment of the tearing path. Thefirst sides 40C of the indentations 40 are aligned along the tearingpath to form the tearing path. The pointed front and rear ends 40A, 40Bof the indentations are positioned on the tearing path. The pointedfront and rear ends 40A, 40B of adjacent indentations are connected toeach other by the generally linear connecting segments 50, which arealso positioned in register with and form part of the tearing path. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the indentations 40 include a generallysemi-circular shape. Other sizes and shapes of indentations may be used(including in some embodiments linear shaped indentations) withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

The notch 32, slit 34, and embossment structure 36 may be formed on thebag 10 using the same or separate tools. For example, the embossmentstructure 36 may be formed on bags in a continuous fashion using arotary die unit. Such a die unit may include flexible or rigid dies orrollers between which the film is moved. At least one of the rollers isa male roller including a raised pattern which impresses a correspondingembossed pattern on the film. Optionally, the other roller may be afemale roller including an indented pattern corresponding to the raisedpattern on the other roller for receiving the raised pattern and theindentations as they are formed in the film. If the front and rearpanels 14, 16 are already arranged in opposing relationship, theembossed pattern is applied in register to both the front and rearpanels. Such a configuration is illustrated in the schematic partialsection of FIG. 4. The embossment structure 36 may be formed in thefront and rear panels 14, 16 at the same or different times withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. The rollers may ormay not be heated to heat the film as the indentations are formed. Othermethods of forming the indentations may be used without departing fromthe scope of the present invention. For example, the embossmentstructure 36 may be formed on bags in a batch process, using, forexample, stamps which are pressed into bags as they are momentarilystationary in register with the stamps.

In the illustrated embodiment, the tear line 30 is provided on both thefront and rear panels 14, 16 of the bag. In other words, the notch 32,slit 34, and embossment structure 36 are formed in both the front andrear panels 14, 16. The tear line 30 or portions of the tear line may beformed in only one of the front and rear panels 14, 16 without departingfrom the scope of the present invention.

As is now apparent, the bag 10 provides several advantages. In use, thenotch 32 makes the tear line 30 clearly identifiable, and the slit 34extending from the notch facilitates easy initiation of tearing throughthe seal seam 20. The embossment structure 36 facilitates tearing of thebag 10 along a predetermined tearing path to form a desired opening inthe bag 10. The embossment structure 36 is free from any openingsextending through the film forming the bag 10 at the embossmentstructure such that contents inside the bag are less likely to leak fromthe bag, and moisture and contaminants are less likely to infiltrate thebag through the tear line 30. Accordingly, contents in the bag 10 areless likely to escape and form a sticky, dusty, or otherwise undesirableresidue or coating on the exterior surface of the bag. Contents havingrelatively smaller particle size (e.g., finer grain salt) can becontained in the bag 10 without risk of the contents leaking out of thetear line 30. In addition, contents in the bag 10 are less likely to becontaminated, such as by water entering the bag through the tear line30.

Desirably, the force required to tear along the tear line 30 to open thebag 10 (i.e., the “tear force”) is as small as possible, but the tearline is strong enough to resist opening in response to some forces notintended to tear the tear line. For example, the tear force may bebetween about 2 and 4 pounds. This makes it easy for the user to openthe bag 10. In some embodiments, embossment structure 36 is configuredto have such a minimal tear force while being strong enough to resistinadvertent opening such as by bursting or rupturing if the bag impactsthe ground after being dropped. A test used to quantify the ability of abag to withstand inadvertent opening of the bag is referred to as a DropTest. The Drop Test as used herein means dropping a closed bagcontaining contents (e.g., granular salt) which substantially fill theinternal volume of the bag from a height of four feet such that the bagfalls freely and strikes and comes to rest against an impact surface(e.g., a concrete floor) without the tear line partially or completelyopening, tearing, or bursting (i.e., the tear line remains unbroken).Pursuant to the Drop Test, the bag is dropped six separate times so thatthe bag strikes the impact surface one time on each of the top andbottom and front, rear, left, and right sides of the bag. Bags accordingto the present invention (e.g., including an embossment structure) havebeen constructed and tested pursuant to the Drop Test. The Drop Test isgenerally according to FDA B-12. The embossment structure had a tearforce of between about 2 and 4 pounds, and the bags passed the DropTest.

Referring to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of a bag of the presentinvention is generally designated by the reference number 110. The bagis identical to the bag 10 except as described. Corresponding parts areindicated by corresponding reference numbers. For example, the bag 110has a zone of weakness or tear line 130 including an embossmentstructure 136. The embossment structure 136 includes a series ofnon-linear indentations 140 which are spaced from one another. Theindentations 140 are connected to each other by connecting segments 150each having a generally linear shape. The connecting segments 150 may beomitted or have other shapes without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

In this embodiment, the embossment structure 136 is constructed to tearin response to a tear force that is substantially constant over theentire length of the embossment structure, notwithstanding the change indirection of the embossment structure from extending generallylengthwise of the bag 110 (e.g., a “machine direction” of the bag) togenerally widthwise of the bag (e.g., a “cross-machine direction” of thebag). For example, the tear force may be about 4 pounds or less. Asshown in FIG. 5, the embossment structure 136 includes indentations 140which are spaced different distances from each other. In other words,the density of the indentations 140 along the series of indentations isdifferent at different portions of the series of indentations. In theillustrated embodiment, the indentations 140 extend along a path whichincludes a first portion that is oriented in predominantly an upper endto lower end direction of the bag body and a second portion that isoriented predominantly in a left side to right side direction of the bagbody. The spacing between adjacent indentations 140 (or density of theindentations) is greater when the path is oriented in the predominantlyupper end to lower end direction than when the path is oriented in thepredominantly left side to right side direction. For example, thespacing between adjacent indentations 140 (or density of theindentations) in the first path portion oriented in the predominantlyupper end to lower end direction may be about three times greater thanthe spacing of adjacent indentations (or density of the indentations) inthe second path portion that is located in the predominantly left sideto right side direction. The decrease in spacing between adjacentindentations 140 at the second portion that is oriented in thepredominantly left side to right side direction of the bag 110 decreasesthe tear force at that second portion to make it more consistent withthe tear force of the first portion that is oriented in thepredominantly upper end to lower end direction of the bag. In general,the variation in spacing between the indentations may depend upon thecomposition of the material of the bag, and orientation of strength ofthe bag. There may be more than one variation in the spacing and theratio of greatest to smallest spacing can be other than three times asdescribed above.

In the illustrated embodiment, the series of indentations 140 includethree separate regions 160A-160C along the path of indentations. Thefirst region of indentations 160A extends along the portion of the paththat is oriented in the predominantly upper end to lower end directionof the bag body. The third region of indentations 160C extends along theportion of the path that is oriented in the predominantly left side toright side direction. The second region 160B extends along anintermediate portion of the path between the first and second regions160A, 160C. The indentations 140 in the first, second, and third regions160A-160C are spaced apart from one another different distances (i.e.,the connecting segments 150 have different lengths in each of thezones). For example, the spacing between adjacent indentations 140 inthe first region 160A may be about 0.20 inches (5.1 mm), the spacingbetween adjacent indentations in the second region 160B may be about0.10 inches (2.5 mm), and the spacing between adjacent indentations inthe third region 140C may be about 0.05 inches (1.3 mm). In other words,the density of indentations 140 in the first region 160A is on the orderof three to four times greater than the density of the indentations inthe third region 160C. Other spacings or densities may be used withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. For example, theremay be two regions of different indentation spacings, having for examplespacings of 0.06 inches (1.6 mm) and 0.19 inches (4.8 mm), respectively.The spacing or density of the indentations 140 may more gradually changeor change continuously along substantially all or a portion of the pathof indentations. The ration of spacing between the largest and smallestspacing may be other than described within the scope of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a third embodiment of a bag of the presentinvention is generally designated by the reference number 210. The bagis identical to the bag 10 except as described. Corresponding parts areindicated by corresponding reference numbers. For example, the bag 210has a zone of weakness or tear line 230 including an embossmentstructure 236. The embossment structure 236 includes a series ofnon-linear indentations 240 which are spaced from one another. In thisembodiment, there are no connecting segments (e.g., like segments 50 ofthe first embodiment) which connect adjacent indentations. Theindentations 240 have pointed front and rear ends 240A, 240B. The frontand rear ends 240A, 240B of adjacent indentations 240 are not connectedto each other.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a fourth embodiment of a bag of the presentinvention is generally designated by the reference number 310. The bagis identical to the bag 10 except as described. Corresponding parts areindicated by corresponding reference numbers. For example, the bag 310has a zone of weakness or tear line 330 including an embossmentstructure 336. The embossment structure 336 includes a series ofnon-linear indentations 340 which are spaced from one another. In thisembodiment, the indentations 340 each have a generally trapezoidalshape. Referring to FIG. 9, each indentation 340 has pointed front andrear ends 340A, 340B. The indentations 340 are not connected to eachother by connecting segments. For example, adjacent indentations 340 maybe spaced from each other from about 0.02 to 0.30 inches (0.51 mm to 7.6mm). In the illustrated embodiment, adjacent indentations are spacedfrom each other about 0.06 inches (1.5 mm). The indentations 340 have along side 340C and a short side 340D. The long sides 340C of theindentations 340 are positioned in register with each other and formsegments of the tearing path along which the tear line 330 is most proneto tearing.

Referring again to FIG. 8, the embossment structure 336 extends along anarcuate path which is different than the paths of embossment structuresdescribed above. The embossment structure 336 extends along a path fromthe upper edge margin of the bag 310 to the right side margin of thebag. Adjacent the upper edge margin, the path includes a first portion370A starting at the upper edge margin and extending away from the rightside edge margin and a second portion 370B extending from the firstportion to the right side edge margin. As a result, the center of thearc formed by the embossment structure 336 extends farther into the bagthan a conventionally shaped perforation structure that extend parallelto the right side margin. The path having this configuration providesthe opening formed by tearing the embossment structure 336 with a largemouth. More specifically, the path portion 370A adjacent the upper edgemargin which extends away from the right side edge margin provides theresulting opening with a larger mouth compared to the opening if thepath portion adjacent the upper edge margin did not extend away from theright side edge margin. For example, the mouth may be over ten percentlarger than conventionally formed mouths. The wider opening makes iteasier to pour contents from the bag 310.

Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent thatmodifications and variations are possible without departing from thescope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methodswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description and shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bag configured for holding contents andconfigured for permitting a user to dispense the contents from the bag,the bag comprising: a bag body including at least front and rear panelsof generally flexible film, the bag body defining a volume adapted forholding the contents, the front and rear panels including respectiveinner surfaces which face each other and form at least part of thevolume, the front and rear panels including respective outer surfaceswhich face away from the volume, the panels each having upper ends,lower ends, and left and right sides which together respectively form anupper end, a lower end, and left and right sides of the body; the bagbody including a zone of weakness on at least one of the front and rearpanels for facilitating opening of the bag body by tearing the bag bodyalong the zone of weakness, the zone of weakness comprising anembossment structure that has a tear force that is substantiallyconstant over the entire length of the zone of weakness.
 2. A bag as setforth in claim 1 wherein the tear force is less than 4 pounds force. 3.A bag as set forth in claim 2 wherein the zone of weakness remainsunbroken after a Drop Test.
 4. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein theembossment structure is free from any opening passing through the frontor rear panel to prevent the contents from escaping from the volumethrough the zone of weakness before the zone of weakness is torn.
 5. Abag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the embossment structure includesdeformations at which the flexible film is stretched beyond a yieldpoint of the flexible film but not stretched beyond a break point of theflexible film.
 6. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the embossmentstructure comprises a series of indentations each having a non-linearshape.
 7. A bag as set forth in claim 6 wherein the indentations arearranged in one after another along a path including at least one of arectilinear and curvilinear shape.
 8. A bag as set forth in claim 7wherein each of the indentations has front and rear ends and anintermediate portion between the front and rear ends, each of theindentations including a length extending along the path formed by theindentations between the front and rear ends, each of the indentationsincluding a width extending generally perpendicular to the path formedby the indentations, the width of each indentation at its front and rearends being less than the width of the indentation at its intermediateportion.
 9. A bag as set forth in claim 8 wherein the indentations eachhave a generally semi-circular shape.
 10. A bag as set forth in claim 8wherein the rear end of each indentation is positioned adjacent thefront end of an immediately previous indentation in the series, and thefront end of each indentation is positioned adjacent the rear end of animmediately subsequent indentation in the series.
 11. A bag as set forthin claim 10 wherein the indentations are spaced from each other.
 12. Abag as set forth in claim 10 wherein the front and rear ends of eachindentation are pointed.
 13. A bag as set forth in claim 8 wherein thezone of weakness includes a tearing path along which the zone ofweakness is most prone to tearing, each indentation including first andsecond sides extending along the length of the indentation, the firstside being positioned in register with and forming a segment of thetearing path.
 14. A bag as set forth in claim 13 wherein eachindentation includes front and rear ends, the front and rear ends ofeach indentation being pointed and being positioned on the tearing path.15. A bag as set forth in claim 8 wherein the zone of weakness furtherincludes a notch positioned adjacent the upper end of the bag body andextending toward an upper end of the series of indentations tofacilitate initiation of tearing along the tearing path, the notch beingsized to be visually distinct from the adjacent portions of the bag. 16.A bag as set forth in claim 15 wherein the zone of weakness furtherincludes a slit positioned between the notch and the series ofindentations, the slit extending from a lower end of the notch towardthe upper end of the series of indentations to facilitate initiation oftearing along the tearing path.
 17. A bag as set forth in claim 16wherein the bag includes a seal seam traversing an edge margin of thebag, the upper end of the series of indentations and the notch and slitbeing generally aligned with each other and the slit extending throughthe seal seam.
 18. A bag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the embossmentstructure comprises a series of indentations that are spaced apartdifferent distances from each other along the zone of weakness.
 19. Abag as set forth in claim 18 wherein the indentations extend along apath including a portion that is oriented in predominantly an upper endto lower end direction of the bag body and a portion that is orientedpredominantly in a left side to right side direction of the bag body,the spacing between adjacent indentations being greater when the path isoriented in the predominantly upper end to lower end direction than whenthe path is oriented in the predominantly left side to right sidedirection.
 20. A bag as set forth in claim 19 wherein the spacingbetween adjacent indentations in the path portion oriented in thepredominantly upper end to lower end direction is about three timesgreater than the spacing of adjacent indentations in the path portionthat is located in the predominantly left side to right side direction.21. A bag configured for holding contents and configured for permittinga user to dispense the contents from the bag, the bag comprising: a bagbody including at least front and rear panels of generally flexiblefilm, the bag body defining a volume adapted for holding the contents,the front and rear panels including respective inner surfaces which faceeach other and form at least part of the volume, the bag body includingedge margins, a zone of weakness on at least one of the front and rearpanels for facilitating opening of the bag body by tearing the bag bodyalong the zone of weakness, the zone of weakness comprising anembossment structure, the embossment structure extending along a pathfrom a first of the edge margins to a second of the edge margins,adjacent the first edge margin, the path including a first portionstarting at said first edge margin and extending away from said secondedge margin and a second portion extending from said first portion tosaid second edge margin.
 22. A bag as set forth in claim 21 wherein thepath is generally arcuate in shape.
 23. A bag configured for holdingcontents and configured for permitting a user to dispense the contentsfrom the bag, the bag comprising: a bag body including at least frontand rear panels of generally flexible film, the bag body defining avolume adapted for holding the contents, the front and rear panelsincluding respective inner surfaces which face each other and form atleast part of the volume, the bag body including a zone of weakness onat least one of the front and rear panels for facilitating opening ofthe bag body by tearing the bag body along the zone of weakness, thezone of weakness comprising an embossment structure, the embossmentstructure comprising a series of indentations each having a non-linearshape.